Losartan, the first angiotensin II antagonist, has a highly selective mechanism of action, proven, excellent tolerability, and highly effective blood pressure lowering which is comparable to other classes of anti-hypertensives. This proven tolerability helps patients to stay on therapy and receive benefits beyond effective blood pressure lowering. In hypertensive patients in the LIFE trial, losartan has been shown to provide superior benefits to atenolol in reducing the combined risk of cardiovascular death and disease (including stroke and heart attack) by 13 percent. In the RENAAL study, of diabetic patients with renal disease, losartan significantly reduced the risk of End Stage Renal Disease (dialysis and transplantation) by 28 percent in type II diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Losartan is the leading worldwide angiotensin II antagonist and has been prescribed to 12 million patients and has been the subject of over 4,500 publications. Other trademarks for losartan include losartan plus hydrochlorothiazide.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc., which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures.

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